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Michael Breen

Who are Korea's real allies?

The decision by President Moon Jae-in to reconsider the deployment by the U.S. forces Korea of a THAAD battery has prompted commentary in some quarters about how South Korea should re-position itself in relation to the two superpowers. But the link between the specifics of this missile defense issue to broad strategic questions is fraught with distractions. The THAAD matter involves three moving parts, each with its own logic. The first concerns the tactical ability, or lack thereof, of the defense system to protect us folk in South Korea against North Korean missiles.

2017-06-12 18:01

It should be okay to fail

Koreans enjoy the best information, communication and technology (ICT) infrastructure and lowest energy costs in the world, the OECD, the club of top industrialized nations, has just confirmed in a new study. The statistics suggest that Korean entrepreneurs are enthusiastic to take advantage of these strong factors.

2017-05-29 18:01

Tale of two patterns

The victory of Moon Jae-in in the presidential election last week was met with joyous relief both at home and abroad. It was as if after months of going round in circles, the Korean ship finally had a captain on board and a firm hand back on the rudder. Even North Korea joined in by calling for an end to animosity. Now that we’ve savored this sunny Seoul spring moment, let me hand out a figurative handkerchief. Because, dear readers, this will end in tears. Here’s why. For anyone who has been around long enough, when you say the words “President” and “North Korea,” two patterns come immediat...

2017-05-15 17:42

Does new president mean more democracy?

It is a foregone conclusion now that, regardless of who wins next week’s presidential election, Korea’s democracy is about to be improved.

2017-05-01 16:19

Is this justice?

When Lee Jae-yong, the de facto leader of Samsung, appeared in court earlier this month to answer charges in connection with the corruption case that unseated President Park Geun-hye, he did so surrounded by guards and with his arms and wrists tied tightly by thick rope. Given that Lee is innocent of any crimes until the court rules that he is guilty and given that the charges are white collar crimes that have involved no violence, what is the point of strapping him down in this way? How are we to interpret such images? This is a question that photographers address when they send their photo...

2017-04-17 17:20

Park jailing is a victory for public sentiment

Political parties and commentators have welcomed the court decision last week to put former President Park Geun-hye behind bars, saying it represents a victory for public sentiment-based democracy. Presidential hopefuls for the upcoming election took a break from their illegal pre-campaign speeches and tours through markets to humbly credit voters and not themselves for the ruling. “It’s what the people wanted,” said Park Mi-bum (no relation) of the minority People’s Party.

2017-04-03 17:20

What will the US do about N. Korea?

On his first visit to South Korea as American Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson last week said that the longstanding American policy of “strategic patience” with North Korea was over. Coming amid annual war games between the U.S. and South Korea and on the heels of a North Korean missile test, this came across as tough talk. Then when the Chinese told Mr. Tillerson their preference was for dialogue with North Korea, much of the media analysis focused on the theme of superpower clash. The assumption was that the Trump administration wants to get harsh but can’t if China doesn’t.

2017-03-20 18:11

Impeachment decision

As the Constitutional Court moves inexorably towards a decision in the impeachment case of President Park Geun-hye, it is clear now, with the belated surge of support for Park, that whichever way the court rules, a lot of people are going to be unhappy. The losing side is bound to protest. Protesters in recent months have been so peaceful that parents feel confident to bring their children along. But if the court sends President Park back to work, some leftists among the pro-impeachment crowd may resort to their violent habits and, after the families and children have gone home, stage futile...

2017-03-06 17:11

NK's best option

If you put yourself in the shoes of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, and his advisors and consider their options in a changing world, you can see why they would find the most comfort in the status quo. We may think that North Korea is a poor and backward country shaking its fist at the world. But, for them, that’s just fine. This is an irony because things naturally change and people want those changes to be for the better. The world, despite crises like the mix-up in the best picture awards at the Oscars, and Brexit and other stuff, is indeed changing for the better. Most countries are...

2017-03-06 15:41

ROUNDTABLETrump to force N. Korea to choose: nukes or survival

Could this be the end of chaebol largesse?

Korean newspapers last week characterized the arrest of the Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong as the breakthrough that prosecutors needed to convict President Park Geun-hye of corruption and for the Constitutional Court to uphold her impeachment. That is because, right now, there is still no evidence that the President did anything criminal and, even though the Constitutional Court may factor in public anger and rock-bottom approval ratings in its decision, it lacks real justification for the very serious step of removing her before her term in office is up.

2017-02-20 16:36

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